India pulls off fifth Test miracle in thriller, England's last man bats with one arm

News.com.au

15 hours ago

Mohammed Siraj was India's hero as they beat England by just six runs in a thrilling fifth Test at the Oval on Monday to end the series level at 2-2.
England, set 374 to win, were bowled out for 367, with fast bowler Siraj taking 5-104, including a sensational burst of 3-9 on Monday's final morning.
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After resuming on 339-6, England lost four wickets for 28 runs on the final morning of a dramatic series.
But England were soon 354-8, 20 runs shy of victory, after outstanding paceman Siraj, the leading bowler on either side this series, struck twice to remove Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton.
When injured England last man Chris Woakes came into bat with his left-arm strapped up in a sling owing to an injured shoulder, England still needed 17 more runs for victory.
Gus Atkinson hit a six off Siraj before England got the target down to single figures.
But Siraj sealed the seal on a superb series by bowling Atkinson (17) as he knocked over the batsman's off stump to spark delirious scenes among the India team and their supporters in south London.
The cricket world was in awe of Woakes' bravery and the theatre of Test cricket, although Woakes was not required to face a delivery in the end.
Cricket stats guru Ric Finlay said on X: 'Immense courage by Chris Woakes.'
Stuart Broad posted: 'Don't know how I feel about any of this right now. How is Chris Woakes feeling?!
'Test cricket hey. This series has been superb and what a finish. Woakesy to hit the winning runs left handed? Nothing is out of the question! Siraj heroic. Doing plenty!'
Dale Steyn posted: 'WE LOVE TEST CRICKET. Incredible series! Well done, well done.'
This is test cricket,Real TEST of your character.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 4, 2025
That was epic. I love Test cricket so much.
— Georgie Parker (@georgieparker) August 4, 2025
We've been playing Test cricket for 150 years - that's one of the best endings to any of them. *Unreal* stuff
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) August 4, 2025
Walking to the crease with his arm in a sling. Chris Woakes into cricket folklore with that alone. #ENGvIND
— Andrew Wu (@wutube) August 4, 2025
Harsh Bhogle said: 'I don't think anyone could have asked for anything more from a sport. It has been a privilege to have been here and to call the last moments will remain one of the biggest moments of my career.'
The Telegraph's Tim Wigmore said: 'A spectacular series but England have now gone 7 series aainst Australia or India without winning. They've drawn 2-2 at home on 4 occasions, and then been thashed each series away.'
It is India's narrowest winning margin in a Test match.
'For us as a team that wasn't given a chance in this series, for us to fight back and fight in every game and get a result which is 2-2 (is great),' India's KL Rahul told Sky Sports.
'It might seem like a draw but for Indian Test cricket going into the future it will rank right at the top.
'From this, we will go on and win many more series outside of India,' the opening batsman added.
Siraj finished with figures of 5/104 from 30.1 overs.
India were without Jasprit Bumrah at the Oval after deciding to stand by a decision to only play the world's top-ranked Test bowler in three games of this five-match series -- a figure the fast bowler reached during last week's drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford.
Siraj, who featured throughout the series, ended with 23 wickets at 32.43.